The Little History of Stick Pins

The Little History of Stick Pins

Stick pins, a collectable and affordable form of antique jewellery that compels plenty of intrigue and fascination. Composing of primarily two components, a long pin and a decorative head, this type of antique jewellery still survives today in the form of a tie pin, but it is no longer the gorgeous and individual piece that it once was.

Here at Lillicoco, we love stick pins and we know you do too. How can you not? Ranging from adorable to elegant, eccentric to understated, in the antique world there are a myriad of pieces. However, not for long.

Antique stick pins are widely sought after amongst antique aficionados and burgeoning appreciators. And many of them are unique, crafted from a variety of materials, each displaying a distinctive stick pin head.

Skull Enamel Gold Stick Pin, 1867, Source - The Victoria and Albert Museum




Unlike other forms of glittering jewellery at this time, designed for their aesthetic appeal, stick pins were largely created during 1830 and 1920 for a utilitarian purpose. Fixing and holding a gentleman’s cravat in place, these were mainly made from slippery and weighty fabrics. Stick pins allowed for wealthy gentleman to forge a respectable appearance, incredibly important within their society.

However, for those who binge-watch period dramas like Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and most recently Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, cravats and elaborate neck scarves pre-date the Victorian era. Originally created as part of a 17th-century military uniform, the rudimentary cravat was designed to protect the neck from an ill-fated spear. Surely, these would have needed stick pins too if the process of them holding in place was not only arduous but also life-threatening?



9ct Gold Nautical Flag Stick Pin, Original Blue Velvet Box


Early Victorian Silver Foiled Paste Sphere Stick Pin


Shop Our Antique Stick Pin Collection!


At this point in history, pins in their primitive form were few and far between in Europe due to being labour-intensive and expensive to create, so men from this era resorted to elaborate knotting styles which eventually also became indicative of a man’s rank, style and taste. Stick pins did exist at this time as evident from this Georgian stick pin below, but they were only bought and worn by the upper echelons of society.

Despite pins being expensive and time-consuming to create, it didn’t lessen the demand for them, however. At the beginning of the 19th century, the pin-making industry was a cottage industry, (so, slow and small).

Due to this, frustrated men and women started to order their pins from France rather than these smaller businesses in England. This caused outrage, leading to Parliament in 1820 to pass an act that prohibited the sales of pins to only two days a year, January 1st and January the 2nd. Ultimately meaning that stick pins were few and very far between.

However, in 1832 everything changed! A pin-making machine was patented in America, meaning that pins could be produced incredibly quickly, leading to the inevitable rise of stick pins in the 1830s, as well as hat pins in the 1850s.

You may be acquainted and drawn towards more lavish stick pins. However, at first, early examples of stick pins created during 1830 to 1850 showed that these pins were rather simple in design, perhaps only having a single jewel on top of the pin. Yet from 1850 onwards, stick pins became far more extravagant which were due to two factors:Stick pins were one of the few articles of jewellery that men wore, meaning it quickly became a signifier of their taste, wealth and individuality.
Cravats became more popular with the upper-middle classes, meaning that more money was being lavished upon these items, thus reflecting in their bolstered status and design.



The mass production of stick pins occurred during the 1870s, leading to more outlandish and creative features that were beyond the atypical jeweller including animal heads, horseshoes, bugs, flowers, celestial pieces, and hearts.

From political to pretty, stick pins were widely incorporated in men’s fashion, and by the 1890s, stick pins were emerging within women’s fashion too.

Yet, women’s fashion and pins also had a convoluted relationship, of course, pins were used for dressmaking and embroidery. However, stick pins and hat pins within women’s fashion started to show a change of the times. In the 1890’s, stick pins were used in women’s sportswear, signifying the shift in roles, having more time for leisure and active pursuits, rather than the domestic.

What’s more, hat pins became more and more popular due to the change in hat styles. Women preferred wearing hats that could be secured onto the head with a hat pin, rather than wearing a bonnet which secured to the head by being tied tightly under the chin.

Bonnets were viewed as restrictive, and hat pins allowed women to escape this confining form of dress. This aligned with the slowly changing attitudes surrounding women’s dress being uncomfortable, patriarchal and ultimately, a form of imprisonment.

Remember when earlier in this blog post the government restricted pin purchasing in 1820? Well, it wasn’t the end of that. In 1909, as the suffragette movement was advancing at a rapid pace, there were increasing fears that hat pins could be used as weapons (as stick pins could too!). This lead to a bill being passed instructing that women’s pins had to be 9 inches long or less.



After World War I, stick pins and hat pins became less and less popular as World War I was a catalyst for a seismic shift in dress. Due to the sudden change in men and women’s roles, clothes became more streamlined, and the mass production of fasteners like buttons and zips meant that pins were no longer needed to hold clothes in place.

Although stick pins stopped being made, this did not mean that they fell from grace, they just didn’t fit with new evolving designs. However, this means that today they are highly collectable. True historic pieces from bygone eras, their beauty is still revered to this day.

If you are just starting an antique collection, stick pins and hat pins are a great place to start. Not only are they made from high-quality Gold and Silver, but also many are inlaid with gems making them an affordable way to possess a piece of the past. In fact, if in good enough condition, you can still wear these pins on a day to day basis or on formal occasions.

Today, personal style doesn’t have the rigid codes and preconceived notions that dominated former areas, meaning you can easily wear a stick pin with any outfit! We think sparkling Gold pins would look perfect when pinned into chunky knitwear or holding together thick winter scarves.



Alternatively, we work with an experienced and reliable jeweller who often converts antique stick pins for us on your behalf.

If you see a pin you love and can imagine it as a beautiful pendant around your neck…. Or a one-of-a-kind ring please get in touch with us, and we’ll work with you to make your jewellery dreams come true!

Email us:

enquiries@Lillicoco.com

Lillicoco Interprets Pantone 2024 Classic Blue

 

Lillicoco Interprets Pantone 2024 Classic Blue

“The deeper the blue becomes, the more strongly it calls man towards the infinite” - John Ruskin, leading art critic.

If, like us, you are interested in design, then you may be aware that last year (and we mean a few months ago) leading colour trend and palette curation company Pantone released their colour for 2020: Classic blue. 

Classic blue was chosen with the intention to resonate with a collective and wide audience. A colour that inspires deep reflection, a sense of cohesiveness and tranquillity, Pantone’s 2020 shade was meant to bring us all closer together, unifying the world where climate and politics seek to drive us apart.

 

Generally, the infatuation with blue has transpired for centuries, fascinating our ancestors, artists, fashion designers and scientists. Here at Lillicoco, we love being inspired by trends in the fashion and art world, a world where jewellery inhabits. With this in mind, we have put together a blog that pays homage to this shade and we also take a closer look into how blue, in all of its shades, has influenced art, fashion and jewellery. 

Fascination with Classic Blue 

First and foremost, we need to understand exactly WHY we have this fascination with blue. Recent studies have shown that amongst both men and women, blue was the favoured colour. So, it could be interpreted that Pantone made a ‘safe’ choice. This is because we know that blue resonates with everyone; a universal colour of tranquillity, peace and positivity. 

 

Yet, blue has fascinated people for centuries because, unlike other colours, blue is not tangible. The colour of the sea and the sky, blue cannot naturally be bottled up, ground or easily sourced, and through ingenuities of modern science can now be created through artificial means.

Perhaps this was why it was so revered and thus has become associated not only with tranquillity but also rarity. 

In North America and Europe, blue translates to trust, security and authority, considered to be soothing and peaceful. Yet, in some countries like Turkey, Greece, Iran, Afghanistan and Albania, blue symbolises both healing and the repellence of evil - utilised in the evil eye symbol.

 

Pantone’s influence, extending beyond the paradigms of fashion, decoration and art, is choosing this shade of blue because it possesses a positive meaning in so many different cultures.

Pantone’s previous colours of ‘Living Coral’ in 2019 and ‘Ultra Violet’ in 2018 were also chosen in a politically fragmented climate. Yet these were chosen for their jovial nature, hoping to ignite and motivate positive passions across the globe.

Although, Pantone, like many others, are starting to see that it's no longer working. In many ways, the world is dramatically changing, and cohesiveness is paramount to move forward. We think that Pantone has chosen this colour to bring us all back together. A colour that isn’t necessarily new, but it will always be current, on-trend and, of course, classic.

Art’s Love Affair with Blue

The world’s collective fascination with blue travels back centuries, as it was one of the hardest hues to covet and create. Unlike other pigments that could be easily sourced from plants, food and the earth like green, red, yellow, orange, and brown, blue, was another story altogether. 

Despite being incredibly difficult to source, blue nonetheless has fascinated artists and creators since the Ancient Egyptians. In fact, one of the earliest blue pigments, ultramarine came from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli, a gemstone we will further explore later. Allegedly, Cleopatra wore powdered lapis lazuli on her eyelids. 

Ultramarine, as a pigment, was first used in 6th-century Buddhist frescoes, quickly evolving to becoming the most sought after colour in Medieval Europe. Its scarcity only surmounted to its deep intrigue, with lapis lazuli itself rivalling the price of Gold. 

 

Only used for the most important commissions by the most esteemed patrons, it is probably no surprise that ultramarine is often pictured in works of art by great Renaissance artists, and soon became associated with the Virgin Mary herself.

Sassoferrato, The Virgin in Prayer, 1640-1650, Source - The National Gallery London

Vermeer, The Girl with the Pearl Earring, 1665, Source - Mauritshuis The Netherlands

Ultramarine is a key signifier in the power of colour. A power which started to take shape in Indigo, a crop that produced a deep violet-blue hue that was used primarily to dye fabric. 

 

However, indigo blue was so sought after that created trade wars between European nations and the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1880, synthetic indigo was developed, leading these wars, but not the demand, to cease. Today, indigo is widely used to dye denim.

Aziz and Suleman Khatri, Indigo Moon Sari, 2012, Source - The Victoria and Albert Museum 

Another notable shade of blue that has fascinated the art world is International Klein Blue, created by the artist Yves Klein.

 Yves Klein exclusively worked with this shade from 1957 onwards, which was a bespoke matte version of ultramarine. Clothing Venuses and enshrouding canvases, Yves Klein blue is bright, provocative and daring. Perhaps the opposite of Pantone Classic blue but nonetheless important.

 

With this in mind, below are our favourite famous blue paintings that continue to enthral us: 

Pablo Picasso Blue Period 

Between 1900 and 1904, Pablo Picasso exclusively created monochromatic paintings using variations of blue and green tones. Appearing to show his poverty and instability, street beggars and sex workers have been immortalised in shades of deep blues, murky greens, the colour of ponds, tears and sea.

Pablo Picasso, Celestina, 1903, Source -  Pablo Picasso 

Van Gogh, Starry Night and Self Portrait

Two of the most recognised paintings in Western culture, Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Self Portrait show two different powerful interpretations of blue. One being idyllic and bucolic, his French provençal town below bathed under the moonlight, and the other believed to be Van Gogh’s last self-portrait, a touching yet deeply saddening portrayal. Regardless, both works are incredibly beautiful, and… blue.

Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night, 1889 - Source MoMA.

Vincent Van Gogh, Self Portrait, 1889, Source - Musée d'Orsay. 

Matisse - Blue Nudes

A series of lithographs created by Henri Matisse in the 1950s, these blue creations are one-dimensional in form, depicting nude women draped in blue in various positions. The solid slabs of single colour added volume to the piece and equated Matisse with Fauvism.

Henri Matisse Blue Nude II, 1952, Source - MoMA

With Pantone Classic Blue, the love affair between history of art and blue starts a new chapter.

Fashion and Blue

“You go to your closet and you select… I don’t know… that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean. And you’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… wasn’t it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.” - The Devil Wears Prada.

Similarly to the art world, the fashion world is also infatuated with blue. It is no secret that blue and gender has been fiercely interlinked, with beliefs that especially for young children, blue was allocated to boys and pink for girls. It cannot be exactly pinpointed as to how this belief came about, but it was dictated in numerous women’s fashion magazines and literature in the 19th century including the London Lady’s Newspaper, Harper's New Monthly Magazine, and the Englishwomen’s Domestic Magazine.

Carriage, Walking Costume and Children’s Dresses, June 1842, Le Follet - Source, The National Portrait Gallery.



Despite this, blue in all of its shades, whether cerulean, electric, cobalt, navy, peacock and petrol, is heavily abundant in women's fashion. And has been so for centuries. In fact, similarly to Renaissance art, the scarcity of blue in pigment meant that in terms of clothes dye it was only reserved for the members of the elite. 

 

During the Elizabethan period, only royal family members were allowed to dress in blue due to expensive pigments and dyes being imported from India. Yet this has undeniably lead to blue being synonymous with elegance and refinement.

The colour of the heavens, wearing blue inspired others to look up to you.

 

Portrait of allegedly Maria di Cosimo, 1555-1557, Source - Pinterest.

Perfect upon any occasion, blue clothes can easily be smart, casual, ethereal, pretty, and striking. So, up until the 1950’s, blue has always been associated with the wealthier classes.

However, during the 1950s to 1970s, originally a working trouser, jeans quickly became the garment of choice amongst young people, being comfortable to wear, appealing to both genders and aligning with the rebellious feelings amongst the youth. Before this, jeans were workers trousers that originally adorned the Genoan navy.

From bootcut to straight leg, skinny to ‘mom’, denim jeans completely changed the way that blue was incorporated into fashion.

Yet, how does this tie in with Pantone choosing blue? Well, from blue denim jeans being present in every person’s wardrobe, it can be assumed that everyone identifies with blue. Not to mention blue is vastly incorporated into every other piece and item of clothing.

What's more, denim was the sign of rebellion and resistance against previous generations, so blue as a shade for resilience started to evolve, a resilience that resonates with everyone around us today.  

Classically Blue Gemstones

Of course, as an antique jewellery specialist, we couldn’t NOT talk about classically blue gemstones. As you will soon find out, the blue hue of these gemstones below have inspired their mystical and tranquil meanings, akin to the symbolism behind Classic Blue today. 

Lapis Lazuli

A heavily saturated semi-precious gemstone. Lapis Lazuli's deep blue hue has made it incredibly sought after for centuries, dating back to ancient civilisations. As mentioned earlier, powdered lapis lazuli was a form of eye makeup for Cleopatra, and it was used for the ultramarine pigment in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

 

Revered for thousands of centuries as amulets and ornaments, lapis lazuli was a symbol of the starry night, peppered with Gold and bringing light, wisdom and freedom to the wearer.

Sapphire

A stone that is ubiquitous with the colour blue, promising wisdom, royalty and prophecy, like lapis lazuli, Sapphires have been revered for millenia. Considered to be the height of celestial hope and faith, we can see why Sapphires are symbols of power and strength, adding to the connotations surrounding blue as a colour to be admired.

 

Aquamarine

Originating from the Latin for ‘seawater’, aquamarine is a pale blue stone that is akin to fresh Turquoise waters. Associated with being calming and soothing, it a tranquil stone that is meant to help open up channels of communication. What’s more, Aquamarines are a stunning delicate shade of blue!

 

Tanzanite 

Only unearthed in 1967, which is pretty much yesterday in the antique jewellery world, tanzanite is also a deep blue. Inspiring feelings of mystery, magic, nobility and luxury, many use tanzanite for spiritual exploration and meditation.

 

Azurite 

Another stone that was loved by the Egyptians, it was believed that Azurite was potent in its psychic powers. What’s more, ancient Chinese civilizations believed that Azurite would open a celestial gateway. Both of these interpretations and beliefs have contributed to its general belief that Azurite can help to open up new perspectives, immediately resonating with the meaning behind Pantone’s Classic Blue.

 

At the Lillicoco office, we love Pantone’s choice for 2020. A shade that clearly will never go out of style, Pantone’s Classic Blue is a great shade for interior decoration, fashion, and jewellery, appealing to all.

 

We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog! If you have any comments you would like to share, feel free to comment below!

 

Fall in love this Valentine's Day with our top 15 Valentine’s picks

Finding the perfect Valentines gift for your partner can at times be an odious and stressful task, especially if you are looking for a piece that they don’t expect.

 From ‘I <3 you’ teddy bears to a dozen red roses, his and hers mugs to heart-shaped chocolates, there is an abundance of novelty, but nonetheless stereotypical, Valentine’s gifts for your partner out there. Yet, as much as these are lovely and charming in their own right, they will likely be a fleeting gift that will soon be tucked away, already collecting dust in your attic on February the 15th. So, show your partner that you really care by getting them a special piece that they will treasure for a lifetime, not just a few hours. 

If you are looking for something a little less than quintessential, we have endeavoured to collate together a gorgeous array of Valentine’s gift ideas for her below, all from our glittering Lillicoco collection. 

Antique jewellery valentines gifts are a sentimental and touching way to honour your loved one and the relationship you share together. It can be difficult to find gifts that truly connect to your heart, that dance the fine line of cheesy and caring, and that convey how deeply you cherish one another. 

Jewellery has been exchanged between loved ones for centuries. In the earliest civilisations when jewellery was first created for the belief that it possessed powerful protective qualities, amulets and talismans would have been given to help protect a loved one from harm’s way.

 Yet, the intoxicating and bewitching beauty of gemstones soon transformed jewellery into Objets d’Arte, created to display a person’s wealth and affection, and perhaps, to entice into courtship and marriage. What’s more, as jewellery is worn close to the skin, jewellery instantly has a symbiotic, close and intimate relationship with the wearer, far closer than other fashion accessories. 

Antique jewellery adds another element, and another story. How exquisite would it be holding a historic relic within your hands? Imagine its past wearers, who they were, the events they attended, the outfits they were worn with, the journey that it will have taken to arrive within your possession. Through you, the jewellery will start a new chapter. 

So, stop endlessly searching ‘gifts for him’ and ‘gifts for her’ through Google, and read below for our top 15 Valentine’s picks. 

To find out more about each individual piece, just click on the title where we have embedded a link to their listing. Or, don't hesitate to drop us an email and we can send exclusive videos and pictures of the piece just for you!

Antique 15ct Gold Diamond Pendant

To start off, we have selected this divine antique 15ct Gold Diamond pendant. Crafted in the Victorian era, this pretty heart has a beautiful twinkling Diamond at the centre, framed by celestial-style engravings.  

Positioned under the plain Gold ring band and Opal Pearl cluster ring, we have chosen this piece for Valentines simply because she exudes timeless beauty. Although an antique, we think your loved one will enjoy wearing this piece time and time again. Whether accessorising a little black dress or adding a touch of twinkle to workwear. 

In the Victorian period, celestial-inspired pieces were at the heart (pardon the pun!) of romanticism, a fitting symbol for protection, guidance, mystery, magic and power - fitting feelings that you and your loved one will undoubtedly share. Relationships are, and will always be lined with unexpected twists and turns, bumps in the road and some of the most beautiful moments shared with one another, and we believe this beautiful pendant reflects this wholeheartedly. 

Victorian Gold Heart Locket

Whilst we are on the subject of Victorian symbolism, if you want to gift a piece that is undoubtedly rich in the language of love, this Victorian Gold heart locket could be just what you are looking for (without even realising that you are searching for it!). 

This locket has two cartouchés on both the front and back of the locket, inviting two engravings. Personalisation is a great way to instantly make a Valentine’s gift feel special. Plus, with an antique locket like this one, it is you literally writing your chapter together, engraved for eternity. The front cartouché is a shield, a symbol of protection, and the reverse is a naturalistic shape that hugs the acanthus leaves engravings. 

Forget-me-nots and acanthus leaves were the engraving of choice during the Victorian era as it signified remembrance and immortality. Undoubtedly, a stunning valentine’s gift for girlfriends and wives. 

Antique Silver Paste Heart Pendant, c.1850. 

Despite us loving antique Gold jewellery, antique Silver jewellery is also equally as enchanting, plus we know that every woman has their preference so it would be rude not to add a piece of silver heart jewellery to the list!

This stunning Silver heart pendant is visually very striking, positioned at the centre of the photo above. A cabochon Turquoise is nestled at the centre, in the perfect quintessential shade of duck egg blue. Surrounding the Turquoise are all individually hand cut Paste gems, varying from 2mm to 4mm in diameter, creating a dynamic and visually-appealing display overall.

We simply think this would be a great Valentine’s gift because it has that je ne sais quoi feel about it. The Paste gems are unique to antique jewellery, evident of high-quality craftsmanship, so if your loved one just adores everything from the past, then this piece would just be irresistible for them. Plus, this pendant is incredibly wearable, traversing from day to evening occasions with ease.  

Art Deco Diamond Solitaire Ring

It probably won’t be surprising to you that Valentine’s day is one of the most popular days to get engaged, other than the Christmas period, so of course, it would be rude not to include a possible antique engagement ring, especially as divine as this Art Deco Diamond solitaire ring. In fact, we are pretty certain that many of our readers are considering getting down on one knee on the most romantic day of the year!

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and the gem of choice for engagement rings due to their everlasting nature and rarity. Undoubtedly, what we love the most about this piece is that the Diamond has been graciously cut into a heart shape - how adorable! Despite the ring exuding feminine energy through the heart, it is held aloft by strong architectural style gallery, epitomising the decadence of the Art Deco period.

This ring is just something we think your partner-to-be won’t be able to resist, we can hear wedding bells in the distance already!

Edwardian Pearl Heart Brooch with Lucky Clover, c.1901

Luck and love are two ideas that go hand in hand. Did you meet your loved one by chance? Whether your hands touched over the same packet of tomatoes in the supermarket or you accidentally walked into each other in the street, heads bent down, fingers jumping on your phones. Captured and told through every greatest love story ever known, chance and luck are the master puppeteer for your fates. 

So, if your meeting is one destined for poems, stories and fables, why not commemorate this through this Edwardian Pearl heart brooch? Featuring a lucky clover poised at the centre, your loved one can wear this close to their heart throughout the day. 

A fitting Valentine’s gift for relationships that started with a little help from fate, we think this dainty brooch will be loved for the many more decades to come. 

Georgian Agate Heart Pendant 

If your partner loves nature-inspired jewellery, then this Georgian agate pendant could be something that they will love. Displaying beautiful and stunning tones of peach, orange and white, it's amazing what mother nature can do! 

Centred in the middle of this stunning layered necklace look, we love that the original maker of this piece let the Agate do all of the talking here. The piece is finished with a decorative yellow Gold rope jump ring and bale, adding that final touch of fine antique jewellery excellence!

What’s more, if you believe that the love you share with your partner is as natural as the earth itself, then this pendant would be the perfect ode to this - certain to bring a tear into your partner’s eye.

Victorian Gold Curb Chain Bracelet with Heart Padlock

Valentines Day is a great way to commemorate and show your partner that you appreciate them. And what better way to do this than get them this beautiful bracelet. Rich in detail, the chunky curb links are caressed by intricate engravings, giving this bracelet plenty of dimension and tone. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Valentine’s gift if it didn’t include a heart motif in some form (we are sure you are noticing a theme here!). The Victorian padlock is an authentic touch of charm, kissed by floral engravings. Although padlocks are quintessentially Victorian, our jewellery eyes have seen them as a recurring motif in plenty of contemporary jewellery (Tiffany and Co!). So, you can be assured that this piece, like your relationship, will never go out of style. 

If you want to find that special Valentine’s gift over £500, then this beauty could be it!

Antique 18ct Gold Pearl Locket

If it is your first Valentines with your partner this year, or this is your first relationship, we can imagine how excited you are for this occasion. First loves are incredibly precious, and will always hold a special place in our heart, so it’s important that you find the right piece of antique jewellery to commemorate this. 

This locket is just underneath the Pearl navette ring!

Lockets are a beautiful and sentimental choice for Valentine’s gifts, and this one is one of the prettiest and quintessentially feminine pieces that we have in our collection. Large plump pearls are arranged into a blooming flower, perfect for symbolising the sweetness and innocence of first love. 

A dainty piece, we think your loved one will be wearing this with everything they own. It’s no secret that Pearl jewellery is having a renaissance in fashion, dubbed ‘cool girl pearls’ by fashion magazines and influencers. If your loved one adores being on trend, then this could be the perfect locket for her. 

Edwardian 15ct Gold Enamel Pearl Pendant Brooch

If you are part of the Lillicoco Vault, you may already recognise this piece, and a few more pieces to come. (It’s really easy to sign up, you can unsubscribe at any time, and you get exclusive access to sales and new jewellery finds like this piece!). 

This Edwardian 15ct Gold Enamel Pearl pendant brooch is spectacular, so spectacular in fact, that it won’t be in our collection for long. 

Epitomising Edwardian femininity with pearls, bows and deep cobalt blue Enamel, this pendant brooch is perfectly regal! If your partner lusts after pieces that clearly are from a former era, then this is perfect. A touching way to honour a Queen in your life. 

Georgian Crowned Heart Diamond Ring (0.30ct)

If you have been an avid follower and long-time buyer of Lillicoco, then it probably won’t surprise you that we have included this piece. We have had plenty of interest for this beauty, but we are just waiting for the right buyer, as good things come to those who wait. 

 

This ring is the stunning piece on the index finger!

Many people wait for their prince or princess charming, and this ring epitomises this wholeheartedly. Displaying the finest skills of Georgian craftsmanship, this maker has expertly shaped the Silver settings in an abstract heart and crown shape. Poised within this is an incredible rose cut Diamond, a cut of Diamond we don’t often see today!

Undeniably a luxurious piece, this Georgian ring will bedazzle your loved one, and they will be as obsessed as us - we will be sad to let her go!

Antique 18ct Rock Crystal Heart Pearl Pendant

Another exclusive, this pendant is perfect if your lover has a pure heart! 

We are fascinated by the incredibly smooth Rock Crystal heart, framed by a halo of pearls. Perfectly cut, it appears as if this a droplet from heaven frozen in time, how magical! 

 

We have never seen a type of antique jewel like this, a true treasure from another time! 

An incredibly cool piece of antique jewellery, this pendant is only available for a short time, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have interest in her. 

Antique 15ct Gold Heart Locket

If you are looking for Valentines Gifts under £500, then this little beauty is perfect. Crafted from 15ct Gold, we think your loved one will treasure this piece. This locket is an incredible price for 15ct Gold, as this is a type of Gold that is no longer created, discontinued in 1932. 

A beautiful buttery gold, this locket is the colour of sunshine, daffodils and marigolds, caressed by smooth engravings across the surface. The hue of this piece is particularly remarkable, as today, most 15ct Gold pieces have mellowed to a distinctive copper hue.

A gift that will surely make your girlfriend, admirer or wife melt. 

Antique 15ct Gold Amethyst Pendant 

A distinctive piece in our collection, we recently acquired this beauty and its safe to say we are pretty obsessed by her - simply because she perfectly fuses both unique character and timeless beauty. 

We hardly ever see cabochon Amethyst pieces, let alone ones fashioned into a heart, how unique! A silvery pearl is the cherry on top of the cake, encrusted into an 18ct Gold star at the centre. 

Antique Heart Opal Diamond Crown Brooch

And last, but certainly not least, we couldn’t resist including this antique Opal brooch. How impressive is this Opal? We cannot believe our eyes once we saw her - it was love at first sight. 

Opals offer us a glimpse into another magical world, with a shimmering confetti of lilac, blue, green and coral revealed at just the slightest caress of light. A stone that symbolises passion, this would be a wonderful Valentines gift for her, the light, passion and amour of your life. 

Pretty Diamonds frame the Opal, gemstones that, as we know, last forever.

Art Nouveau Silver Heart Locket  

When we think of romantic jewellery, our mind instantly jumps to Art Nouveau pieces. Art Nouveau jewellery encapsulates the fantasy, magic, and sublime beauty that is associated with love. From twirling leaves to flowers and filigrees, these features are abundant in jewellery, and in this beautiful Silver locket below.

This locket's Art Nouveau influence is subtle, but undoubtedly present, standing this piece apart from other lockets in our collection. Flowers and leaves sweep across the surface, perfect for partners who are enchanted by perfectly feminine designs. 

A stunning Valentines gift under £200!

Remember, if you have any questions or queries about these items as well as the other jewellery within these pictures - do not hesistate to contact us at enquiries@lillicoco.com!

Not only will your order be expertly gift wrapped for free in our signature pink Lillicoco box, but also we will send a handwritten card too, detailing all of the jewellery information you need. Plus, within these cards, we can also add a handwritten gift message!

We all hope you have an amazing Valentine's Day and that you find the perfect gift you have been looking for.